The source of family feuds (Risk)

Member Name: katyandsam

Product:	Risk
Date:	09/09/08 (64 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Brilliant - you will become addicted

Disadvantages: You may never speak to you friends again

Risk is a truly wonderful game.

Basic idea of the game;

Before I actually played this game, I thought it was going to be hideously complicated. This is mainly because the boys on my corridor used to disappear off to play risk with an air of superiority while we girls tutted at their geekiness and watched diagnosis murder and the five afternoon movie. Had I but known the delight that a good game of risk can provide I would have gone with the boys! This game is so great because it is so simple.

The board is an impression of the world divided into continents and further subdivided into territories. These territories are split equally between the players, and each player puts an army on those he has been assigned. The game then enters the deployment phase. During this phase each player has a certain number of armies he can reinforce his territories with. As such at the end of this phase players have strengthened their force in certain areas of the board. The game then enters the attacking phase. During this phase each player takes turns during which they can deploy further armies (depending on the number of territories they hold) and attack neighbouring territories by rolling the attacking dice (1-3 dice depending on how many armies in the attacking territory). Whilst the defending player rolls the defending dice (1 or 2 dice depending on how many armies in the territory). If the player manages to take a territory they can take a risk card. If they manage to make a set of three risk cards they can deplot extra armies at the beginning of their turn. their is also a deployment bonus if you manage to hold a whole continent (not easy - especialy if many people are playing!). The game ends when the winner has annihalated the losers (a nice family game!). Alternatively you can play with mission cards, where the players all receive a mission at the beginning of the game, and the first to complete their mission wins.

I realise that after saying this game was delightfully simple I have made it sound very complicated - but I promise that when you play it, risk is not that complicated. Indeed I taught my 13 year old sister in ten minutes and she went on to completely annihalate me (i did not take this well!)

This game is a bit different from the standard board games (monopoly, trivial pursuit etc), and as far as board games go is very exciting. However, I will admit that it is very hard to be a nice person whilst playing risk. If I am winning I gloat alot, I have been know to cry if I lose a particuarly vital terratory! (I am 23 years old!). This game is perfect if you have a few people round for dinner and want to spice up the evening by seeing peoples true characters!

Overall this board game is alot of fun and I would thoroughly recommend it! You can pick it up for about twelve pounds newor considerably less than that second hand on ebay - it is worth every penny!

Summary: Great game get it now!